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Magic In A Bottle

Parker and I discovered something really revolutionary this week. Like, really revolutionary. This is riveting stuff, so I hope you're sitting down. It's.... SPRAY PAINT! Take a moment to collect your thoughts and silently judge (I can't blame you), and I'll give the back story.

Decorating a new house is just plain fun. Making each house a home is one of our favorite parts about moving so often. Decorating a house is also expensive. If we bought brand new stuff for each house we lived in, we'd break the bank. Re-purposing and renovating is the way to go to spice up items you already have, like when we painted my desk for a fresh new look. Parker has recently built a bed for a guest room, and I wanted a new lamp for the nightstand. The lamps we had were just not right at all for the room- too dark, too old-fashioned. Parker suggested we just spray paint the base and buy a new lamp shade, and I was all in. A can of spray paint is $3, and lamp shades are cheaper than lamps with lamp shades. Winning.

It was just about the best idea ever. We taped the top of the lamp where the bulb goes and sprayed the lamp with a coat of paint. The trick with spray paint is to stand farther away so you don't have to worry about runs or globs. Two 30-second coats, and our new lamp was finished. So much easier/faster/better than painting with a paint brush! We are obsessed with how easy it was and how well it came out considering we put zero effort into it.

Before (Brown) & After (Silver)

We really love the new lamp, and Parker may or may not have asked me if there is anything else we can spray paint. I mean seriously, I know we are coming off as the biggest dorks, but spray paint is pretty much magic in a bottle. Painting with a brush is effective and necessary in many cases, but there are times when spray paint can definitely be used in its place, and it will make life so much easier. Creating a guest room has been so fun for us because this is the first house that we have been able to dedicate a room as a guest bedroom. It's been a neat process, but an expensive one. Even though Parker builds all of the furniture, new bedding, rug, etc. is expensive. This lamp made us feel a little better, and we are proud that we used something we already have. I definitely had to fight my natural inclination which is just to go buy something new every time. I am working on it.

Side note, but I had to take upteen million pictures of the lamps because this little unimpressed pup seemed to make an appearance in every single one. It was dinner time and she was over this picture taking business, so she made her presence known.

Have you ever given something a brand new look with just a simple change? Do you think Parker and I are nuts for being so excited about spray paint? (It's okay to say yes. I'd have to agree with you.)

The lamp looks great and good for you for recycling. Grandpa Har is the painter in our family and he always paints when I am away. Since I'm not very observant I have to concentrate intensely when I return to see if there's something different on which I need to comment and praise.

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I'm Chelsea, he's Parker, and the furry one is Jenny. Around here, sarcasm is a second language, and we talk way too much about our love for the great state of Texas. We love living the military adventure and think life is just really beautiful. LEARN MORE